Monday, December 5, 2011.
Our next destination: Seatlle, Washington.
I really don't mind saying this...but the farther north we go, the more I hate the temperature. I've always hated the cold. Ever since I was a boy in New York. From mid-October to mid-March, whenever I had to go to wait at the bus stop for the relatively short trip to the American Academy of the Dramatic Arts, I would sit heavily bundled against the brisk wind. But, even though I was well-protected, the wind still reached my body. When I got to the school and peeled off my heavy coat, jacket and sweater, it would still take me anywhere between ten to twenty minutes before my body would stop shivering so I could begin my studies.
Well, today is no exception. When I woke up, it was a bone-chilling 37 degrees. The sun was just skimming the top of the mountains to the east and there I was...exiting the 747, wearing my running shorts, sneakers and a sweater to run around the private airfield for my usual hour. Every time I got hit by a chilly breeze, I turned to look at the jet and glancing at my watch, wishing that the hour was already up. But, this had become a daily ritual for me...rising with or before the sun, putting on my shorts, stepping into a pair of sneakers or rollerblades and getting my daily exercise. I've never let one day go without either running, jogging or skating to keep myself in tip-top condition.
When it came time to leave for the theatre for our 2 p.m. show, the temperature rose to 52 degrees, with a north wind blowing at 20mph. Brrrrrr! And, when you're modeling shorts and swim suits, you can't wear thermal underwear...you'd have the imprint of the ribbing on your legs all day long. And there's nothing so unattractive as that.
I knew the feeling so well. Back in '97, I had contracted with the late Princess Diana to do "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" for six months in London from October to March 1998. The daily highs all through the six months was 50 to 60 degrees. And at night...when I had to walk between my hotel and the theatre...it was even worse. After dark, the temperature dipped down into the 40s and, sometimes, the 30s. Still, because of my costume (which revealed my bare arms and legs), I couldn't wear thermal underwear. Not only did I have to grin and bear the short walk before and after each performance, but the temperature in the theatre was no better. I had to control my urge to shiver through all nine shows each week. That meant I had to hear my own teeth chattering nine times a week...36 times a month...216 times throughout the complete six-month run! All the time I kept asking myself..."Haven't the Brits ever heard of central heating?" Apparently not! But, I made a deal with the late Princess of Wales to make a go with it...and I wasn't one to welch on a deal.
I went through both shows today, resisting the urge to knock my knees as I walked up and down the runway in the light slacks, shorts and swim suits. All through the day, I dreamed of when we will get ourselves back to warmer climes. And all through the night, too.
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